Responsible department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

We request the Government reconsider the proposal that craft no longer be considered part of the creative industries, as part of the 30 April proposed changes set out in Classifying and Measuring the Creative Industries consultation paper.
The craft industry and those who work in it, over 88,000 people making a £3bn annual contribution to the UK economy, are inherently and by their very nature creative. We want the UK Government to stop ignoring The Crafts Council and the thousands of mostly sole trading craftsmen and women who consider themselves to be and indeed are creatives.
The Government should be proud & supportive of our vibrant creative craft industry & celebrate the unique, rich diversity of skills & craftsmanship, not seek to declassify, dismiss & undermine it.
Calling an IT Business Analyst a creative but refusing the title to a skilled potter or ceramicist shows the level of understanding that those proposing the change have of what is and isn’t creative.

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The above, slightly out of focus, image shows a facet of my studio during Open Up in Sheffield.

Not many visitors this weekend but I don’t blame them for enjoying the first of the sunshine.

The visitors that I’ve had have shown lots of interest and have spent time talking about the art – this has been fabulous. As a lone worker it is always great to discuss reasons, applications etc. Most have had a go at weaving, either on the rigid heddle loom or making Mexican stars (children only, so far).

Still, I’m opening on Sunday the 12th, who knows what will happen then?